This case typically illustrates a frontoethmoidal meningoencephalocele. There is herniation of brain matter (frontal lobe) along with meninges through a defect in frontoethmoidal bone. The swelling lies externally between frontal bone and nasal bone leading to nasofrontal type of meningoencephalocele.

Other two types of frontoethmoidal encephaloceles are nasoethmoidal, which exits between the nasal bone and nasal cartilages and naso-orbital, which exits through a defect in the maxillary frontal process. Frontoethmoidal encephaloceles are also known as sincipital encephaloceles.